Rugged terrain and hot, windy conditions are keeping local volunteer firefighters on scene for up to 30 hours at a time as they work to prevent a fire in the Badlands from doing even more damage. AMY DALRYMPLE/BISMARCK TRIBUNE

The North Dakota Secretary of State’s office has received for approval a proposed ballot measure which would create a special license plate for emergency responders.

The measure says it’s specifically for volunteer responders, but as you can see from the text of the measure the definition of volunteers includes some professionals:

This is a statutory measure, so the petitioners will have to collect 13,452 valid signatures by February 12 to make the June primary ballot or July 9 to make the November ballot.